故事讲述流浪牛仔约翰.伯恩斯返回故里,拜访他昔日曾经爱慕的好姑娘邦迪,得知她已同其最好的朋友保罗结婚。但保罗因为非法穿越美国/墨西哥边境而遭逮捕被判两年监禁,总能轻松越狱的伯恩斯打算亲自去监狱帮好友越狱。他设法进了监狱后发现老朋友并不想逃跑,无奈自己脱逃,他准备好马匹和粮食后,在他熟悉的山路中躲避一干现代警力的追捕。在一望无际的荒山野岭中,展开一场老式牛仔与现代警力对峙的猫鼠游戏。A fiercely independent cowboy arranges to have himself locked up in jail in order to then escape with an old friend who has been sentenced to the penitentiary.